Comments on: deCAMPed: Will SF Say Goodbye to the Fisher Collection? http://venetianred.net/2009/07/04/decamped-will-sf-say-goodbye-to-the-fisher-collection/ Working artists discuss art, textiles, design, and culture Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:59:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Nancy http://venetianred.net/2009/07/04/decamped-will-sf-say-goodbye-to-the-fisher-collection/#comment-807 Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:42:55 +0000 http://venetianred.net/?p=7736#comment-807 Apparently Fisher’s plan failed to pass several types of reviews; what I objected to was CW Nevis’ implication that it was shot down by a group of elite SF NIMBY types. I have no problem with museums operating on their endowments. In fact, unlike Kenneth Baker, I understand why museums, whose funds have taken huge hit since the market hit free fall, are turning to revenue producing projects like the current blockbuster at the de Young. You’ve read something into my article that wasn’t there. But it was unclear to me – and obviously to a lot of other people – if his “endowment” would be enough to cover not only the museum but all the attendant expenses, as in new bus routes, possible a huge parking lot, etc. What you see on paper – a nice, clean, small footprint building – could go so wrong in so many different ways. If the ultimate outcome of this is that the collection ends up at SF MOMA or in somewhere south of Market, then we all will have won.

]]> By: Liz Hager http://venetianred.net/2009/07/04/decamped-will-sf-say-goodbye-to-the-fisher-collection/#comment-805 Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:49:45 +0000 http://venetianred.net/?p=7736#comment-805 Nancy
Well, this topic has generated a lot of discussion. Just a couple of comments on your article:

First, your mis/distrust of developers may be well-placed, but I urge you to look at the Presidio Trust’s long-range plan. Anything that is done at the Presidio must be vetted environmentally and historically in a public process. if Fisher couldn’t get his museum through the process, I would guess that condo-developers won’t either.

Second, many museums may operate on their endowments, but what’s wrong with that? That money usually comes from the wealthy in the community, not from taxpayers. It’s a slippery slope to start decrying unprofitable museums. Should we eliminate all unprofitable opera, ballet, symphony, dance troupes as well? What about libraries?

Third, according to my reading of the Presidio Trust Management Plan documents, I’m not exactly sure how one can argue convincingly that CAMP “violated” the terms of either the National Park or Trust’s mandates. I covered this in detail in VR post, Evolving Uses of the Presidio.

Fourth, I don’t know what constitutes a “huge” footprint where cultural buildings are concerned, but the new design put 60% of the 70,000 feet underground (or 42,000 ft), and the remaining footage was no higher than 30 feet off the ground.

And finally,not sure you meant to, but the way you worded your sentence it implies that Don Fisher was responsible for all buildings at Main Post. He wasn’t. Presidio Trust responsible for others.

Look forward to continued debate on this topic!

]]> By: Nancy http://venetianred.net/2009/07/04/decamped-will-sf-say-goodbye-to-the-fisher-collection/#comment-801 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:59:11 +0000 http://venetianred.net/?p=7736#comment-801 I put a post up about this on my blog and on the Examiner web site where I now post on art and art related matters.

Nancy
http://www.examiner.com/x-13996-SF-Museum-Examiner

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